Volunteers to help enforce Animal Welfare Enactment

0

KOTA KINABALU: In a bid to rectify issues of animal cruelty, especially those involving strays, animal welfare volunteers (AWV) have been appointed from among existing members of animal welfare NGOs throughout the State.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin said the volunteers were appointed to assist the authorities in enforcing the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015, which was passed in the State Cabinet in November of the same year.

“The duty and responsibility of enforcing this enactment is a very challenging task, hence the appointment of animal welfare volunteers. For a start, the government has conducted a short course which was attended by 11 volunteers and seven observers representing their respective associations.

“These volunteers will be officially appointed to assist the Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry in executing the law,” Yahya said in his opening address at the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015 roadshow.

He said the objective of the roadshow is to inform the public of the Enactment and to explain its contents, as well as to make it known that 15 animal-involved activities require a licence.

Yahya also reminded that upon conviction under the Enactment, offenders are liable to a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of not more than three years, or both.

Newly appointed volunteer, Yap Chiu San of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Tawau explained that the volunteers’ role is to gather evidence on the ground and report to the relevant authorities, besides offering advice.

“Our role is to help gather evidence at the front lines when there are reports of animal cruelty cases. We then present our findings to the investigating officer before further action is taken. We are also tasked to offer advice to the general public on proper animal care,” said Yap.

She added that volunteers appointed as AWV are among those who are already involved in similar work, but an official appointment is crucial to their new role.

“We’ve been doing this kind of work since the beginning, but we need a proper appointment to make our roles more official so that the public will take it more seriously.

“Awareness is still low in terms of offences against animals and its repercussions, so once we have been appointed, we can officially educate people on the law against animal cruelty. In addition, we also advise people to treat animals with respect and to neuter their pets to control the population, among others,” she said.

Yahya said since the Enactment was put into effect, three cases have been identified with one successfully contacted and two more pending a court date.

“This is a good sign because it means the public is becoming aware of the law. Previously, they may have treated animals with cruelty but now they are more aware of the need to take care of animals,” he said.